“I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.”

“A few months ago I decided to write my memoirs, a project I knew was going to bring me closer to an amazing turning point in my life. From the moment I wrote the first phrase I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time. Things that were too heavy for me to keep inside. Writing this account of my life, I got very close to my truth. And thisis something worth celebrating.

For many years, there has been only one place where I am in touch with my emotions fearlessly and that’s the stage. Being on stage fills my soul in many ways, almost completely. It’s my vice. The music, the lights and the roar of the audience are elements that make me feel capable of anything. This rush of adrenaline is incredibly addictive. I don’t ever want to stop feeling these emotions. But it is serenity that brings me to where I’m at right now. An amazing emotional place of comprehension, reflection and enlightenment. At this moment I’m feeling the same freedom I usually feel only on stage, without a doubt, I need to share.

Many people told me: “Ricky it’s not important”, “it’s not worth it”, “all the years you’ve worked and everything you’ve built will collapse”, “many people in the world are not ready to accept your truth, your reality, your nature”. Because all this advice came from people who I love dearly, I decided to move on with my life not sharing with the world my entire truth. Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage. Today I take full responsibility for my decisions and my actions.

If someone asked me today, “Ricky, what are you afraid of?” I would answer “the blood that runs through the streets of countries at war…child slavery, terrorism…the cynicism of some people in positions of power, the misinterpretation of faith.” But fear of my truth? Not at all! On the contrary, It fills me with strength and courage. This is just what I need especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day. To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with. Enough is enough. This has to change. This was not supposed to happen 5 or 10 years ago, it is supposed to happen now. Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment.

These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.

What will happen from now on? It doesn’t matter. I can only focus on what’s happening to me in this moment. The word “happiness” takes on a new meaning for me as of today. It has been a very intense process. Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution.

I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.

RM”

While I’m happy Ricky Martin has found the strength to come out, I have to ask, what took so long? Everyone must make their own journey at their own pace, but, like Sean Hayes, Ricky Martin was an assumption, and the LGBTQ community needs everyone’s help, now more than ever. Those in the public eye have a responsibility to help their community.

You said it yourself. Everyone has their own process. Far be it from me or anyone else to try to drag someone out of the closet before they are ready to face it themselves. I remember when there was a radical group long ago outing closeted homosexuals "for the greater good" of advancing acceptance. But what those folks didn't seem to care about was the aftermath those people faced with their family, friends and co-workers. In extreme cases, those who were outed faced death threats as well. Whatever happened to privacy? Is that not a right that ALL Americans have? It seems that the media and the public in general focus too much on who is in my bed, instead of wondering what kind of person I am. Character knows no gender, race, creed, color or sexual orientation. I'm a private person, so it wouldn't matter if I were gay or straight, I still wouldn't tell you who I share my bed with. That's my business, not yours. Leave poor Ricky Martin alone already. You've picked on him long enough. And for what? Your reasons simply aren't good enough.

Michael CrawfordMarch 29, 2010 at 9:27 pm

Ricky's coming out is critically important particularly to LGBT youth of color. Yes, i wish he had come out earlier, but I am not going to criticize him for coming out when he did.

I would also not compare him in anyone way to the bitter and cynical way that Sean Hayes came out. Sean made it seem like he was doing the LGBT community a favor by allowing himself to be associate with us. Ricky spoke from the heart about his growing acceptance of himself and about the pride he feels in being gay.

MalognaSandwichMarch 29, 2010 at 9:54 pm

I fully agree with Michael. While it would have been nice if he came out sooner, everyone needs to do it on their own time.

ElaineMarch 29, 2010 at 10:40 pm

David, you know I love you but I'm going to disagree with you on this one. While it would be nice if every GLBT public figure would fight the good fight with us, it's just not human nature. I think we have to let each person do what he or she thinks is right, be thankful when we get a public ally and not judge when we don't. We each came out in our own way and time and didn't want to be judged for not doing it the way someone else wanted or expected, and that's what I think we owe anyone else coming out, celebrity or not.

So — welcome, Ricky, to the family (even though you've been hangin' out at the side door all along!). Glad you're here. That is all.

EdwinMarch 30, 2010 at 12:08 am

David, my friend, we each have our own path to follow. And while we all arrive at the same destination eventually, we all arrive at different times by different ways. Ricky got here right when he was supposed to, not before and not later, but right when it was the right time for him. Others will arrive eventually, in their own time.

We should not be asking "Why are others not coming out?!", instead, we should be demanding to know "Why the hell does this still matter?" That should be our goal, a world where gay/straight labels are meaningless words, with no more social significance than blond or bald.

Dan DMarch 30, 2010 at 4:33 pm

When you're a popular artist and you firmly deny your homosexuality like it's some disease, you shouldn't be accepted with open arms coming out as your career hits the skids. Your candidness would have had more impact when you were selling millions of records and you hung out at the White House. I'm sure this helps you sell your new book and album though. Could've kept that secret a little longer for all we care now.

JustinMarch 30, 2010 at 12:37 pm

For me Constance McMillan 18 coming out in the south where she couldn't take her girlfriend to the prom is much more of a hero to me. I came out publicly 17 years ago and I think stars who stay in the closet hurt themselves and our community. Everyone gay and straight knew Ricky Martin was gay in so much so he became the butt of jokes. That is not a role model, because it sends a message that it is something to be ashamed of. When the average American knows that he is gay (Barbara Walters asked him about it in an interview in 2000) but Ricky is to ashamed or scared to say it, what message does that send to our young people?